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HB 1779MISSOURISession 2026State Billin committee

Missouri House Bill 1779 establishes statutory definitions for male, female, and sex

Original title: BIOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF MALE AND FEMALE

Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsors: Cathy Jo Loy and 3 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

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What This Bill Would Do

House Bill 1779 establishes statutory definitions for 'male', 'female', and 'sex' based on biological reproductive systems and specifies that the term 'gender' in state law refers exclusively to biological sex rather than gender identity.

Why it matters

The measure alters how state laws and interpret the terms 'sex' and 'gender' while granting federal Americans with Disabilities Act protections to individuals with medically verifiable disorders of sex development.

Background

House Bill 1779 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the 103rd General Assembly by Representative Cathy Jo Loy. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Individuals with disorders or differences in sex development

Individuals with a medically verifiable diagnosis of a disorder or difference in sex development are granted legal protections and accommodations under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Directly affected

State agencies and administrative bodies

State agencies must interpret the terms 'gender' and 'sex' in existing state law and administrative rules in accordance with the definitions established by the act.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the bill define 'female' and 'male'?

The bill defines 'female' and 'male' based on whether an individual has, had, will have, or would have the reproductive system that produces, transports, and utilizes eggs or sperm, respectively, for fertilization, excepting developmental or genetic anomalies or historical accidents.

Does the term 'gender' mean 'gender identity' under this bill?

No. The bill specifies that when 'gender' is used alone in state law or , it is a synonym for 'sex' and shall not be considered a synonym for gender identity, gender expression, or gender role.

What protections are provided for individuals with disorders in sex development?

An individual born with a medically verifiable diagnosis of a shall enjoy the legal protections and accommodations afforded under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

May 15, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
Jan 8, 2026HouseFloor
Read Second Time (H)
Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read First Time (H)
Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroduced
Prefiled (H)

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Codification of Biological Definitions

The bill shifts state statutory interpretation by explicitly binding the standalone term 'gender' to biological 'sex' rather than gender identity.

General Assembly

Connected Entities

Joseph Engler, General Assembly, Chapter 213 and 1 more

PersonJoseph Engler“Chief Clerk”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body of the state of Missouri”Map →

otherChapter 213“RSMo chapter being amended”Map →

otherAmericans with Disabilities Act“Federal law providing legal protections and accommodations”Map →

Sources

Open source document

house.mo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy85
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz40
Current news / social attention level

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